Once offloaded, seven ships laden with fuel for Lebanon will last a maximum of 15 days, one fuel sector insider told L’Orient Today. (Credit: João Sousa/L’Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Following rumored delays, a fuel sector insider confirmed to L’Orient Today that three major fuel distribution companies had began offloading shipments after Banque du Liban executed payments, while three more companies expect to begin offloading shipments soon.
Here’s what we know so far:
• The head of the fuel distributors’ syndicate, Georges Fayad, said Medco, Hypo and Coral had begun offloading their tankers yesterday. Total; Uniterminal, which Fayad owns; and Wardieh had to delay the offloading process due to alleged payment issues with BDL, but Fayad said he expects the issue to be resolved today and for the tankers to begin offloading soon.
• When reached for comment by L’Orient Today, a BDL spokesperson was unable to provide further details.
• On Tuesday, Medco’s vice president, Maroun Chammas, told L’Orient-Le Jour that the central bank had preapproved imports from three diesel-laden ships and four gasoline-loaded ships, adding that six of the ships are for importing companies while one is for government facilities. Chammas said that if the payment obstacles are overcome, fuel from the seven ships will last a maximum of 15 days
• The latest fuel delivery issue comes amid a massive fuel shortage across the country caused by reductions in BDL fuel subsidies, hoarding and smuggling, a lack of government transparency in the fuel sector and a failure to procure fuel for supply the state electricity utility, increasing demand for diesel-run generator power.